Many people wonder, “What is Suboxone?” Suboxone is a medication commonly used to treat opioid addiction, including dependence on drugs like heroin, as well as prescription medications such as morphine and oxycodone. It combines two drugs: buprenorphine, an opioid activator, and naloxone, an opioid antagonist. This combination allows individuals to gradually taper off their addiction while reducing the severe symptoms that would typically accompany full withdrawal.
What is Suboxone?
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), while buprenorphine in Suboxone can produce effects similar to opioids, such as euphoria, these effects are much weaker. Additionally, increasing the dosage does not intensify these effects, which significantly reduces the potential for misuse or dependency.
Buprenorphine
It is used in medication-assisted recovery and was approved for clinical use in October 2002. Unlike methadone, buprenorphine was the first medication authorized for opioid dependency treatment that could be prescribed by physicians. As a partial opioid agonist, it produces effects like euphoria and respiratory depression, but these effects are much milder compared to those of heroin and methadone.
Naloxone
Naloxone is a medication specifically designed to treat opioid overdoses. As an opioid antagonist, it binds to opioid receptors, blocking the effects of opioids. When combined with Buprenorphine in Suboxone, Naloxone reduces the potential for abuse, as increasing the dosage does not intensify the high.
How Suboxone Treats Opioid Addiction
Although Suboxone is more effective than many other forms of opioid addiction treatment, prescribing it can be challenging for doctors. Strict regulations have limited the number of licensed providers, with only about 5% of the nation’s doctors having waivers to prescribe this medication.
Understanding what Suboxone is and how it works can help individuals manage opioid withdrawal symptoms while minimizing the risk of abuse. Suboxone offers several advantages over other treatment options:
Suboxone treatment is administered in three phases:
1. Induction: This initial phase begins within 24 hours of the individual’s last use of an opioid. During the early stages of withdrawal, Suboxone is administered to alleviate withdrawal symptoms.
2. Stabilization: This phase starts when the individual has either stopped using opioids or has significantly reduced their intake. At this stage, the doctor may adjust the Suboxone dosage and administration to suit the specific needs of the patient.
3. Maintenance: In the final phase, the Suboxone dosage is gradually reduced over time until it is no longer needed.
Medication Assisted Recovery
Medication-Assisted Recovery (MAR) is most effective when Suboxone is administered by professional staff alongside a proven therapeutic and aftercare program. This comprehensive approach generally leads to higher success rates for individuals struggling with opioid addiction.
Is Suboxone Safe?
A clinical study conducted at Rikers Island compared the use of Suboxone and Methadone for treating opioid withdrawal in inmates. The results showed that 48% of those treated with Suboxone reported to post-release treatment, compared to only 14% of those who used Methadone. Furthermore, 93% of Suboxone users expressed an intention to continue treatment after release, compared to 43% of Methadone recipients.
Suboxone is generally considered a safe and effective option for treating opioid addiction, especially compared to other medications. However, since it contains buprenorphine, an opioid agonist, there is still a risk of dependency. Typically, Suboxone treatment lasts around two months, as prolonged use can lead to stronger chemical dependency. The safest way to discontinue Suboxone is under the guidance of a healthcare professional, who will usually recommend gradually tapering the dosage over several weeks.
Withdrawal symptoms from Suboxone are similar to those of opioid withdrawal but are generally less severe. These symptoms can include anxiety, cramps, cravings, sleep disturbances, and other related effects.
Taylor and Francis Group Study
A 2004 study published by the Taylor and Francis Group supports the use of Suboxone. The research demonstrated that Suboxone showed minimal risk of misuse when administered in an unsupervised setting. This indicates that Suboxone can be safely prescribed by doctors and effectively assists individuals in reducing opioid dependence without being subject to abuse.
BioMed Central Study
A study conducted in Finland and published by BioMed Central examined the transition of patients from buprenorphine alone to Suboxone. Participants reported that injecting Suboxone did not produce the same high as illicit opioids. Because Suboxone does not induce a high, it may be a safer alternative to methadone.
Journal of Addiction Medicine Study
A study published in the Journal of Addiction Medicine found that patient compliance with Suboxone was excellent. The majority of participants successfully avoided opioid abuse during the study, and no patients reported negative side effects or signs of misuse while using Suboxone.
Recap
Suboxone is a crucial tool in the treatment of opioid addiction, offering a safer alternative to methadone and providing effective management of withdrawal symptoms. Its combination of buprenorphine and naloxone helps to reduce the risk of misuse and dependency. When administered as part of a comprehensive treatment plan, Suboxone can significantly enhance the likelihood of successful recovery.
Seeking Treatment Options?
At Sunrise Recovery, we are committed to providing a diverse range of treatment options to meet the needs of all our patients. With a clear understanding of what Suboxone is, you can evaluate whether it is the right treatment for you. Suboxone is one of the top choices for treating opioid addiction and is considered a safer alternative to methadone. If you are ready to start living the life you’ve always dreamed of, we are here to support you.
